derailed; derailing; derails
1
: to cause to run off the rails
2
a
: to obstruct the progress of : frustrate
security problems derailed the tour
b
: to upset the stability or composure of
divorce … can seriously derail an employee—
Joanne Gordon
Joanne Gordon
: to leave the rails
Examples of derail in a Sentence
The train derailed in heavy snow.
The train was derailed by heavy snow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Could SpaceX derail a rival's next-generation satellite project because of paperwork issues?
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 3 June 2025
However, the Trump administration’s announcement of sky-high tariffs on China in April derailed this process.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
By the time Trump met Kim for a second summit in Hanoi, Trump’s attention had drifted from North Korea, and both men’s greed for a quick deal derailed their fragile progress.
—John Delury, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
In Kursk, a freight train derailed after a bridge fell, injuring a crew member.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
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Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 3 June 2025
However, the Trump administration’s announcement of sky-high tariffs on China in April derailed this process.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 3 June 2025
By the time Trump met Kim for a second summit in Hanoi, Trump’s attention had drifted from North Korea, and both men’s greed for a quick deal derailed their fragile progress.
—John Delury, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
In Kursk, a freight train derailed after a bridge fell, injuring a crew member.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derail. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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